Amarr is pleased to announce that we have added the Commercial Smooth Ribbed Steel to the Model 2500 commercial sectional door line up. The smooth ribbed profile will replace the wood grain profile as the standard offering for our 25-Gauge Pan Doors. Wood grain will continue to be offered as an option.

The Model 2500 is priced so there is approximately 10% savings vs. the 24-gauge Model 2400. This makes the Model 2500 the perfect option for large projects or any project on a tight budget.

While the woodgrain embossment provides a texture that resists and hides field damage, the smooth steel profile is the industry standard and is what is specified on the majority of projects. The deep ribbed profile matches Amarr’s and most competitors’ 20, 24, and 25-gauge profiles in appearance enabling the use of the 25oo on retrofit jobs to match other doors that are already in place.

The Model 2500 is offered in sizes up to 14’2” x 14’ and is available with a vinyl backed insulation option. Larger door size requirement will use the Model 2400.

The Classica Cortona, the new stamped-steel carriage house design will be available to order on May 2, 2011. The Cortona is a 3-section stamped-steel, long panel bead board design that simulates a traditional wood carriage house look.

Just a reminder, Terratone vinyl stop and nails are available at your local Amarr Garage Door Dealer Houston. These Terratone components are color-matched to complement the Amarr Terratone doors available in Stratford 1000/2000/3000 and Oak Summit 1000/2000/3000.

Garage Door Spring Systems is the Most Used Commonly on Sectional Type Overhead Doors.

Garage doors are very heavy and some type springing systems must used at the top with cables attaching to the bottom garage doors to counterbalance the weight of the door. When a garage door is opened, these springs assist in lightening the weight of the door. When closing the door, the springs keep it from slamming hard on the ground and damaging the door or causing injury.

To release the spring tension, raise the door in the fully open and clamp the door into position using a pair of vice grips in the tracks to prevent the door from moving. Once the door is open, you can make spring adjustments to only the extension spring type systems.

Torsion spring systems adjustments are not recommended by the do it yourselfer.
Typically overhead garage door springs have a life expectancy of 10,000 cycles, unless you special ordered your door with extended life cycle springs. One cycle is an operation of an up and down. The extension and torsion springs are tempered (hardened) steel that comes either in plain cold rolled, painted, oil soaked, or galvanized. When the garage door is closed these springs are under very extreme tension and can be dangerous causing injury.

Over time, or during the later stages of the life cycles, springs will start to fatigue, and will eventually start stretching and or breaking, usually releasing its spring load with loud bang. Most homeowners, if you are at home, hear the spring break and usually unable to find where the noise came from until you try to use your garage door the next time.

On the average I see a 10k life cycle spring last around 7 to 10 years depending on how often you use your door. Anything over 10 years is a bonus. For example, if you average about two cycles per day, opening and closing the door a total of 4 times as you come and go, then the life expectancy becomes 2500 days, or approximately 7 years. If you have children that drive or more adults with vehicles, then you tend to cycle the door even more often, which in turn needing a spring replacement even sooner.

Since standard lift torsion springs are winding “up” when the door is closing or going down, the fully closed position is the most stressful on the steel spring material and thus the most likely the time of breakage. This is a good thing; because failure near the top-of-travel means that you suddenly have a large heavy door coming down and crashing against the floor with the increased weight. As a rule of thumb, and for safety reasons, you should never be standing or walking under the door when it is opening or closing, especially if you do so manually instead of with an electric opener. Also automatic door operators will provide additional safety if and when the spring breaks during the door movement.

When the springs are working correctly, the door appears nearly weightless, but this is an illusion that turns into a calamity when the springs suddenly fail.

Caution: If you need to make annual adjustments to the springs or repair the door, we recommend using a trained garage door technician to do your annual tune-ups.

Your overhead garage door is more than likely the largest moving object in your home. Garage doors are essential not only in protecting your cars from the outside harsh weather, but also in protecting your vehicles (and your house) from burglars and intruders. Depending on multiple factors, a typical double wide overhead garage door usually weighs two to three hundred pounds. Some type of springing system is equipped to counterbalance the weight of the door which in turn makes the door a mere to open by hand. Comparable to automobiles, garage doors need to be serviced once a year so you or your electric door opener has an easy life opening and closing your garage door.

Majority of the newer doors purchased today is steel. This explains the reason for the most economical decision is steel. Steel garage doors provide the minimal amount of upkeep as compared to wood with the outside elements. Although, if you prefer the carriage house appearance, some garage door manufactures provide carriage house style doors in composite and handmade western red cedar wood. The advantages of red cedar or a composite door is the ability to apply stain to match parts of your house. This is something that you can’t do with a steel overhead door. Of course, with the natural look and cost of cedar or composite, it wouldn’t make sense to paint it. Now on the other hand, the lower end wood overhead garage doors can be painted, although it is not as durable as steel and requires more maintenance. The lower end wood doors usually consist of some type of hemlock fir and masonite hard board to make up the construction. For wood, you need stain or paint to keep a wood overhead door looking good and for its longevity. Basically, seal it up from the elements and moisture from getting inside the door. We also recommend a rubber seal between the floor and the door to prevent the wood door from drawing moisture off the floor when the door is closed. Once the wood door starts drawing moisture, it will soon start to deteriorate.

Because of advances in manufacturing, steel doors have greatly improved over the last several years by providing six to eight colors to choose from. Nearly all steel door companies have the wood grain design textured surface with embossed raised panels. So now you can get the same elegant wood look even if your overhead garage door is actually made of steel. Some manufactures have gone a bit farther with steel by offering the looks of handmade carriage house western red cedar but in the low maintenance and lower costs of steel. So, unless you need a door that you want to stain match part of your house, steel door offers so many options today compared ten years ago.

Remember annual maintenance and using your garage door regularly will guarantee its continuous operation for many years to come.

Preferred Doors Offers Tips on Maintaining Your Garage Door

June is Garage Door Safety Month and Preferred Doors is working to increase awareness of the possible hazards of garage doors and automatic opener systems as well as the need for periodic inspection and maintenance to keep them safe. The garage door is the largest moving object in most homes and according to statistics provided by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System they were responsible for just over 13,000 injuries in 2007. Read more

History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. Hurricane Preparedness Week during 2010 will be held May 23rd through May 29th.Read more

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is projecting a 70 percent probability of the following ranges:

14 to 23 Named Storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including:

8 to 14 Hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which:

3 to 7 could be Major Hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

“If this outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active on record,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “The greater likelihood of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall. In short, we urge everyone to be prepared.” Read more